Adapter socket for multilight incandescent electric lamps



Jan. 10, 1939. G. HERZBERG ET AL ADAPTER SOCKET FOR MULTILIGHT INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed May 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l mummy I Jan. 10, 1939. 1 G. HERZ'B-ERG ET AL 2,143,150

ADAPTER SOCKET FOR MULTILIGHT INCANDESCRNT ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Ma 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X Z 4fl I (\VI! I INVENTO NEY Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ADAPTER SOCKET FOR MULTILIGHT IN CAN DESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS Gustav Herzberg, Maplewood, and Alfred F.

Bahlke, Scotch Plain s, N. J., assignors to Utility Electric Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 9; 1938, Serial No. 206,758

6 Claims.

Many incandescent electric lamps today are manufactured with a plurality of filaments of different wattages related and combined with each other so that they may be placed in the electric circuit either separately or all together so as to secure at will illumination of varying degrees of intensity. The invention relates particularly to multi-light lamps wherein each filament has the same characteristics as that-of an ordinary one filament lamp of the same wattage, as distinguished from the old so-called turndown lamps having two filaments so related that when they are connected in series onewill glow while when one is short-circuited the other will glow.

These multi-light lamps require special lamp sockets having special switches for controlling the filaments because the ordinary switch socket is adapted for use with only the more common electric lamp having one filament. not possible to utilize a multi-light lamp with the usual switch socket adapted for one-light or single filament lamps. Accordingly, in order to obtain the advantages of a multi-light lamp, the owner of a standard or portable or other fixture having a one-light switch socket, generally must buy a new standard, portable or exture equipped with a multi-light socket. This usually entails unnecessary expense in the purchase price of the new device and discarding of the old one.

One object of the present invention is to provide an adapter to be inserted into an ordinary socket for one-light or single filament lamps and embodying novel and improved means for mounting a multi-light lamp bulb, whereby to permit the multi-light bulb to be used in conjunction with said ordinary socket.

Another object is to provide an adapter of the character described which shall embody a novel disk concentric with the adapter and having its periphery projecting beyond the outer surface of the adapter to be grasped by the fingers of an operator for operating the switch, whereby the adapter shall be small and compact and the switch actuating disk shall be easilyaccessible' and simple to operate. l Other objects are to provide a switch including a novel and improved construction,combination and arrangement of terminals and contactmem- Therefore, it is bers for controlling a plurality of circuits and which shall be simple and inexpensive; and to obtain otheradvantages and results as will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to said drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through an adapter constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 with portions broken away for clearness in illustration.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on a plane perpendicular to that of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, and

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are wiring diagrams showing the operations of the switch for controlling the filaments through a multi-light lamp.

Specifically describing the invention, the adapter includes a plug A to be inserted into the socket for an ordinary single filament lamp, and a socket B to receive the base of a known type of multi-light or multiple filament electric incandescent lamp C.

As shown, the plug A includes a hollow block i of electricalninsulating material on the exterior of which is a screw threaded metallic shell 2 to screw into an ordinary lamp socket. The top of the plug comprises a disc 8 of insulating material set within the shell 2 on the top of the hollow block i and having a lug 9 projecting laterally for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The socket B includes an interiorly screw threaded metallic shell 3 into which is screwed the base of the lamp C, said shell being encased in a sleeve of electrical insulating material 4. The bottom of the socket is shown as comprising a disc of insulating material It! that is inserted within the end of theshell 3 so that the edges of the shell project beyond the disc as indicated at H, the disc being secured in position in any suitable manner as by screws l2.

Between the plug A and the socket B is a switch mechanism D for controlling the circuits through the filaments of the lamp C. The lamp filaments are schematically illustrated in Figures '7, 8 and 9, there being twofilaments E and F having a common terminali and individual terminals 6 and l tween which and the bottom I0 of the socket is.

interposed a compression spring I'I. With this construction the socket is normally influencedtof ward the plug and the two elements are held to'-' gether. To prevent relative rotationof .the socket. and plug I may attach a link I 8 to the lug 9-of the disc 8 of the plug and provide a pin and sl'ot connection I9 between said link and the socket.

The switch mechanism D controls thecircuit from the terminals of the ordinary lamp socket in which the plug A is fitted, through the two filaments of the lamp C so that said filaments may be placed in circuitseparately. or together,

or thrown out ofthe circuit, at will. shown, the lamp has a common terminal for thefilaments E and'F, this terminal being connected tothe'i shell 20 of the lamp base. The other terminal of one of the filaments is connected to thecentral terminal 2 of the lamp base, while the other terminal of the other 'fiiamem is cc'nnect dta intermediate terminal ring 22 on 'the'lamp base, the three terminals 20,12I and 22 being insulated from each other'by the insulation the base of the lamp as is knownin the art;

Thecentral terminal 2| of the lamp base separably cooperates with a central spring contact element 23 at the base of the socket B. As shown,

this Contact element is a U -shape'dsp'ring having one end secured on the rod, I4 beneath the nut I6 and its other end'overlyi'ng t eme of the rod.- The intermediate terminal 22 or the lampucooperates with acontact element 24 which prises a conducting pin secured i'nand projecting upwardly from' the bottom 1010f the socke faiid The shell 2|] of the lamp base cooperates with the shell 3 of the socket mime usualmanne'f.

The outer or shellterminal' 2 of the plug'A is permanently electricallybonnected.to' the shell,

3 of the socket B. As shown, this is effectedfby concentric contact rings 25 and 2 6 dis'posedfat opposite sides of a switch operating disc 'ZI'I and electrically connected by rivets 28',0ne'of "the rings bearing against the edge II of the socket shell 3 and the other ring bearing against the edge of the plug shell 2 as indicatedatZSl' This contact between the parts is maintainedbythe'spring]I,

The operating disc 21' is formed of insulating material and rotatably mounted coaxially With? the plug and socketu'pon the rod I4. Thisrod'is formed of two pieces I40 and MI rigidlyconnected together by a dowel pin 30 of insulating ,1 material which is secured in sockets in the juxtaposed ends of the sections I40 and MI whereby said two sections are electrically insulated from each other.

the socket B is connected, may be electrically connected to the section I40 selectively by a spring finger 3| mounted on a collar 32 that is fixedly;

secured in a hub or boss 210 on the operating disc 21' and electrically contactingwith the section I 4 I The spring finger selectively cooperates with contact points 33 diametrically oppositely, dis- The section I40 forms the central; terminal for the plug A and theupper section I 4 through which the central contact element 23 of posed on the section I40. In this way, the central contact element 23 of the socket may be selectively electrically connected to the central terminal of the plug A.

The intermediate contact element 24 of the socket may also selectively be connected with the central terminalof the plug. As shown, the conducting link 34,, has one. end clamped between the rod I4 and the disc I3 and its other end projecting through the disc of insulation 8 at the topoi the plug. The switch operating disc 2'! hasa segmental contact piece 35 to electrically contaefselec'tively with the end of the link 34. The segment-'35 connected electrically by rivets-36 to acontactring 3'! at the opposite side of the operating "disc 21, and this contact ring 31 constaiitlyelctrically contacts with the intermed ete peiept fi :Qfa socket- In operation of the adapter, it will be observed that with the plug A screwed into an ordinary lamp socketvand the lamp C screwed into the soo'ket fi'the common terminal ofthe filaments orure'iamp C will be connected continuously electrically'ito the shell terminal of the plug A. Thelc manager BI, contact points 33, and the link34 and'the coriducting segment 35 are so relatively arrangedthat upon rotation of the operatingjd'isc'izl thefilaments E and F will be connectt separately ortogether or both of the H lbe thrown out of circuit.

Re'fer'r'ingto Figure :7 it will be seen that both filaments re connected in circuit, the contact finge'rIBI co cti'ngwith'oneof the contact points 33,;Iand thelink'34 contacting the contact segment 35 and ring 37, whereby both the separate terminals fi and 1 .of thefilaments E and Fare conne e'd electricallyto: the central terminal or" the p g In'i l igure 8 only".the fi ament E: is in circuit, the contactfi fi en3 I'having been rotated out' o'f }with the, contact points 33, whileiri Figure 9 only the filament F is in circuit,

ctlfinger 3Iff havin.g' been brought into with the'l'other contact point 33 and the Contact s gment 35 Jnav inegbe 'n moved out of ece i'ih' 4}l mn ur he or the'fil'ame t: are out 'or circuit thefcontact finger 3l .be1ng 0u off'contact Withbbthofthecontacts 33,: andth "contactsegment 35 havin'g been moved mitt: can t" with'the1 link 34.;

Itwill-Joe .observed ,that the periphery of the switch oper'anhgaisc' 2'! projects concentrically neath? eter-eur aee fe P us. nds ke A and B so as to be cor venientlygaccessible for were h nd: 1 h? qiqnsirue i combination and arra g ement pf the parts. provides .a small, comqtenp ir ativ lyi expensive vice.

While we have,,shown and described. the .invention as embodied in certain details of structure itshQuld be. understood that the structural features. of ,.the adapter. may be, Widely. modified.

or .changedlwithout. departing from the spirit or scope'of the invention Havingvthus describedour invention, what we claim is;

1. .An adapter of the character described comprising a plug to fit-into an ordinary lamp socket and having two terminals oneof which is an outer shellcsconce'ntric withthe-plug, anelectrici'lamp.socketlmounted on said plug coaxially,

therewith tokreceive the base of a lamp which hasfapluralitybf baseterniinals. with one end together;toipanothert-of isaidibase .terminals, the

second-mentioned socketrhaving. a plurality of contact elements to be engaged by said base terminals one of which is an inner shell concentric with said socket, and a switch comprising a disc of insulating material mounted to rotate coaxially between said plug and said socket and carrying contact pieces arranged to connect selected contact elements in circuit with the other plug terminal, said disc also having concentric rings to constantly electrically contact with and connect said shells, whereby the fila ments may be energized separately or together.

2. An adapter of the character described comprising a plug to fit into an ordinary lamp socket and having an outer shell terminal and a central terminal, an electric lamp socket coaxially mounted on said plug to receive the base of a lamp which has a plurality of base terminals with one end of each of a plurality of filaments separately connected to certain of said base terminals and together to another of said base terminals, the second-mentioned socket also having a bottom, a central contact element, an intermediate contact element and a shell contact element to separably engage the respective base terminals of said lamp, and a switch including a disc of insulating material rotatably mounted coaxially between said socket and said plug, concentric contact rings on said disc to constantly electrically connect said shells of the plug and socket, and other contact pieces on said disc each selectively to electrically connect one or the other of said contact elements with said central terminal of the plug.

3. An adapter of the character described comprising a plug to fit into an ordinary lamp socket and having an outer shell terminal and a central terminal, an electric lamp socket coaxially mounted in said plug to receive the base of a lamp which has a plurality of base terminals with one end of each of a plurality of filaments separately connected to certain of said base terminals and together to another of said base terminals, the second-mentioned socket also having a bottom, a central contact element, an intermediate contact element and a shell contact element to separably engage the respective base terminals of said lamp, and a switch including a disc of insulating material rotatably mounted coaxially between said socket and said plug, a coaxial rod passing through said disc and connecting said plug and socket and formed of two coaxial electrically insulated sections one of which is electrically connected to each of said central terminals of the plug and said central contact element of the socket, a contact finger carried by said disc to selectively electrically connect said sections together, and other contact pieces on said disc to constantly electrically connect said shell terminals and to selectively electrically connect said intermediate contactelement of the socket to said central terminal of the plug.

4. An adapter of the character described comprising a plug to fit into an ordinary lamp socket and having an outer shell terminal and a central terminal, an electric lamp socket coaxially mounted in said plug to receive the base of a lamp which has a plurality of base terminals with one end of each of a plurality of filaments separately connected to certain of said base terminals and together to another of said base terminals, the second-mentioned socket also having a bottom, a central contact element, an intermediate contact element and a shell contact element to separably engage the respective base terminals of said lamp, said intermediate contact element of said socket extending through the bottom thereof, a conducting member electrically connected to said central terminal of the plug, a switch including a disc of insulating material coaxially mounted between said socket and said plug, means including a contact piece on said disc selectively to electrically connect said central terminal of the plug and said central contact element of the socket, a contact segment concentrically mounted on said disc selectively to electrically connect said contact member with said intermediate contact element of the socket independently of or simultaneously with connection of said central terminal of the plug with said central contact element of the socket, and a contact piece on said disk for constantly electrically connecting said shells of the plug and socket, whereby the filaments of said lamp may be energized separately or together.

5'. An adapter of the character described comprising a plug to fit into an ordinary lamp socket and having an outer shell terminal and a central terminal, an electric lamp socket coaxially mounted on said plug to receive the base of a lamp which has a plurality of base terminals with one end of each of a plurality of filaments separately connected to certain of said base terminals and together to another of said base terminals, the second-mentioned socket also having a bottom, a central contact element, an intermediate contact element and a shell contact element to separably engage the respective base terminals of said lamp, and a switch including a disc of insulating material rotatably mounted coaxially between said socket and said plug, a coaxial rod passing through said disc with one end passing slidably through said bottom of the socket and the other end fixedly connected to said plug a head at one end of the rod in spaced relation to said bottom of the socket, a compression spring interposed between said head and the base of said socket, whereby said socket and plug are connected together and are yieldingly pressed against opposite sides of said switch disc, and contact pieces on said disc arranged to connect selected contact elements in circuit with said plug terminals so that said filaments can bev energized separately or together.

6. The adapter set forth in claim 2 with the addition of means for yieldingly influencing said plug and socket toward opposite sides of said switch disc to maintain contact between said contact rings, said contact pieces and the corresponding contact elements.

GUSTAV HERZBERG. ALFRED F. BAHLKE. 

